Po' Critter

Critter did not enjoy his visit to the vet last week...he has come back somewhat less of what he left with. He got neutered. We neutered him since we did not want to deal with marking and we also already had 3 female cats. Although I breed dogs, I do not wish to take on the breeding of cats, and certainly not mongrel kitties. Also...after much contemplation...he got de-clawed as well. I am not a fan of declawing - but it became a necessary evil. Every once in a while his almost-feral nature kicks in and he decides it's time to climb something...like the $200 business suit hanging from the top of the door (among other clothing); the bedcovers; or even Victor's leg. Not a good thing. We had not even planned on keeping this cat - we had hoped to find him a home while he was a little thing. He and his two siblings had been basically dumped by a friend's house, and the kitties kept getting closer and closer to the fence...and some sighthounds wanting a bit of messy entertainment.

Critter's situation managed to refresh my thinking on so much of the "nanny laws" that cities, counties, states, and even the federal government is wanting to impose on pet owners and breeders. It's a bunch of bunk! Sure someone bred these kittens, or they were from feral cats - you can NOT control feral cat breeding through mandatory spay/neuter laws. A well-organized trap-and-spay/neuter-release program would help solve that - since feral cats can be hard to adapt to home living. They can help with controlling pests in their area - so let them live out their lives but sterilized. They can be vaccinated against rabies when they are trapped as well. If a person was actually responsible for what resulted in these kittens' births...then where the heck are they? Or their owners? It's a lack of responsibility - mandatory spay/neuter (MSN) won't affect them either - because they won't care!!

Who does MSN ultimately have an affect on - responsible hobby breeders such as myself and those within my circle of doggy friends! Those folks who take breeding dogs seriously, as well as the placement of their puppies. Those who have contracts specifying that the animal they have placed should come back to them if for some reason the new owners can no longer keep it - NEVER to a shelter or rescue.

There have even been anti-declawing laws passed so that you cannot have the procedure done on your feline. This can well end up with more animals being turned into a shelter if a cat (such as Critter) is particularly destructive. For myself - I am not the biggest fan of declawing either, but there are times it is necessary - and it should be a choice for pet owners. After all....pets in reality and in a legal sense are property. Certainly a special kind of property for people like myself - but property nonetheless, and one which we should take responsibility for and make our own decisions regarding it.

As frustrating as my Critter can be at times...I do like the little fella. And despite his having to undergo those procedures last week...he is still better off than his little siblings. May they rest in peace.